Jesus Christ died and rose again from the dead so that His people
would be with Him in glory forever. This is the ultimate purpose of
the gospel and why we evangelize. Jesus didn’t come to save people
only for this life. He didn’t come into the world to give us salvation
only for the here and now. He did not come to take us through this
life on a bed of roses. In fact, the Bible tells us that we are counted as
sheep to be slaughtered (See Romans 8:36); we must go through
many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God (Read Acts 14:22).
The disciples are not above their Master. If Jesus was persecuted, so
shall his followers be persecuted (Read John 15:20). We should not
expect an easy path to heaven. The road to heaven is full of
obstacles, hindrances, difficulties, temptations and obstructions!
Jesus came to save us to be with Him forever. Listen to the apostle:
“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can
some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But
if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has
been raised.
For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you
are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in
Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only,
we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact, Christ has
been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have
fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come
also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also
in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-13, 16-22
ESV)
Jesus came to conquer death. When He rose from the dead, He
received a resurrected body, a spiritual body, that cannot die, that
cannot sin, that cannot get sick and that cannot be destroyed. This is
the purpose of God in salvation: that those who believe in Christ
receive a glorified body and will be where Jesus is. As Jesus is, so
shall we be (1 John 3:1). One day believers will see him face to face.
They will be glorified, because they have been justified by the blood
and righteousness of Christ. Those who have been justified will be
glorified (Romans 8:30). But those who do not believe will also be
resurrected in spiritual bodies at the last trumpet. All will be
changed, but some are destined to everlasting condemnation: those
who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ will be consigned to the
lake of fire (Read Rev 20:11-15). And there they will be in torment
forever. The wrath of God will abide on them that do not obey and
believe the gospel (See John 3:36).
What is the purpose of the making God known? It is to know Christ
more fully. It is to see His glory and it is to enjoy His presence forever
and ever in the new heavens and the new earth! God is going to
make all things new! The old earth will be rolled back as a scroll, the
elements of this earth will be dissolved by fire (See 2 Peter 3:10-14).
The goal of making God known is that there would be an
innumerable amount of people (Revelation 7:9) singing and
worshipping God and serving Him in holiness. We will not be as
glorious as Christ is, just as a flower is not as glorious as the sun
which gives it light. We will be sustained and upheld by His glory.
Even though believers will be glorious it will be different from God’s
glory. Some people teach that we will be like gods in heaven,
reigning over whatever God will give us. Yes, we will reign with
Christ, but we won’t be Christ. There is only One God: The Father,
Son and Holy Spirit and we exist through Him. God saved us for
Himself and by Himself and for His glory. We must become less, and
He must become more in our estimation.
Believers will be rewarded in heaven according to what they have
done (1 Cor 3:9-12). Some will lose their reward and they will be
saved as through fire. Others’ work will stand the test of God’s
judgment. Nevertheless, none of the elect will miss out on heaven:
each individual that God has chosen before the foundation of world
to belong to Christ will be glorified. Each one that has been
effectually called by Christ and has been justified, will be glorified
(See Romans 8:30). There will be no “dropouts”. And those who will
be rewarded for their work will not be proud and look down on
others in heaven. Those who will not be rewarded for their work will
not be jealous of those who built with gold and silver. For heaven is a
world of love and there is no sin in the coming dispensation.
The purpose of evangelism and making God known is the
sanctification and the glorification of the church. If this were not so,
we as believers are of all men the most miserable. This is our hope
and our joy: to be with Christ, to see and glorify Him; to be in glory
with Christ, to be with God where He is all in all!
Christ died to sanctify His Bride and to present his bride, spotless and
without sin, to God, (Read Eph. 5:21-26).
Will you be in glory with God?
Are you longing to be satisfied with Christ’s presence?
Are you waiting for Christ?
The reason why we evangelize is for the consummation of our
salvation! Only God has the power to raise the spiritually dead and
give them life. Only He has the power to change our corruptible
bodies and give us spiritual bodies that cannot die. No eye has seen,
and no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love Him! (See 1 Cor 2:9).
Christ is coming again! He is preparing a place for his children (See
John 14:2). He will come and take His people to Himself. No one and
nothing can thwart his purposes, His power, and His plans. Glory be
to God!
If God is for us, who can be against us?